Experts say there has been a surge in interest in a common illness millions will suffer from over the next few weeks
Students across the country should be taking three cheap, over-the-counter pills if they want to avoid falling ill this month, a health expert says. Freshers’ flu is a common cold or series of viruses that affects new university students in their first few weeks.
The illnesses are caused by close living arrangements, exposure to many new people and their germs, and weakened immune systems from stress, late nights, and poor diet during the transition to university life. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and fever, and can be prevented with good hygiene, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and reduced alcohol consumption.
Healthcare experts at Supplement Hub say staving off freshers’ flu doesn’t have to be expensive. There are almost 3million students in higher education in the UK and many will fall ill at the start of a new academic year.
Stephen Dowd from Supplement Hub said: “Freshers’ flu is extremely common – it’s your body adjusting to a new environment, late nights and meeting and mixing lots of new people. You don’t need to panic or spend a fortune to protect yourself. With a few simple, affordable habits, you can give your immune system the support it needs.”
Stephen said there are a number of habits that will keep you healthy:
Whole foods: You don’t need a perfect diet – just try to make sure it includes fruit, vegetables and protein where you can. A few balanced basics go a long way, and won’t break the bank. Sleep: Aim for eight hours sleep – your immune system relies on it. However, this is easier said than done – and it’s fine to enjoy late nights during freshers’ week, but try to balance them out with proper rest in between, whenever you can. If your pattern is out of sync, magnesium supplements can help support relaxation and sleep quality. Hydration: A r efillable water bottle is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to stay energised and focused – and it helps cut down on expensive sugary drinks and caffeine.
Student-friendly supplements: What’s actually worth spending money on?
“You can’t out-supplement three hours of sleep and a Pot Noodle,” said Dowd. “But, you can be sucked into buying too many vitamins that are not only unsustainable on a student budget, but often completely unnecessary. If we had to recommend just three essentials to help combat freshers’ flu and support your immunity health more generally, we’d suggest:
A good multivitamin: A simple and effective way to cover general nutritional gaps for students. One a day is enough.
Vitamin D3: During the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not strong enough for the body to make vitamin D. If your diet isn’t as nutrient-packed as it could be, vitamin D supplements are key, especially for those starting university in autumn. We recommend 2000IU per day.
Zinc : Can support immunity short-term, so it’s great to have on hand, but there’s no need to use it long-term.”
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